Tips on Doing Business
Types of Solicitations
(up to $5,000) can be used by City personnel to make small-dollar purchases without the intervention of the Purchasing Division.
(under $10,000) can also be issued by the Purchasing Division after the department receives at least three quotations.
(between $10,000 and $50,000), which are unadvertised and sealed, are awarded by the City Purchasing Director to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder complying with the bid specifications.
(over $50,000) are advertised, sealed, and opened at a public bid opening. A formal written contract is required for these bids after award by the City Purchasing Director.
(over $10,000) are used when price is not the only factor to be used in determining the award of a contract. Evaluation criteria for award will be established such as experience of firm, experience of personnel assigned to project, approach to project, completeness of proposal, and ability of proposer to meet the City's needs. An evaluation committee determines the highest ranked proposer and conducts the evaluation of proposals received. The City Purchasing Director makes award of requests for proposals.
(any dollar threshold) are typically in place for a three-year period. The City has realized significant benefits to using vendor contracts to procure frequently used commodities and services. There is a quicker delivery time, reductions in inventory, less administrative costs associated with repetitive bidding, and price protection due to the City's standard escalator clause.
Bid Notifications
All vendors who wish to do business with the City of Milwaukee are invited to register for E-notify, the City's exclusive bid notification system.
Vendors may view a current list of active bids on our Current Bid Opportunities page. Formal bids over $50,000 are also advertised publicly in the Daily Reporter, the current official newspaper of the City of Milwaukee. A copy of a pending bid may also be obtained from the Purchasing Division upon request.
Preparation of Bids & RFP Responses
When preparing an "Invitation to Bid" or a "Request for Proposal (RFP)" response, vendors are instructed to thoroughly read all instructions on the bid/RFP form and its specifications/Scope of Services before submitting a response. All terms and conditions applicable to the bid/RFP must also be read, since by signing the bid/RFP response, the vendor is agreeing to all the terms and conditions as referenced in the bid/RFP. Once a bid is tabulated and evaluated, award will be made by the City Purchasing Director. For specific instructions on submitting a bid/RFP response, please review the appropriate instructions: